The SAIMM is a professional institute with local and international links aimed at assisting members source information about technological developments in the mining, metallurgical and related sectors.

Upcoming events

The object of the Lecture is to supply the participants with the basics of the SAMREC and SAMVAL Codes. The purpose of the 3-hour lecture is to supply young professionals with the opportunity to broaden their mining knowledge of general mining issues.

The lecture intends to provide the professional with a better understanding and appreciation of the South African reporting codes. Sufficient detail will also enable the mining engineer to benefit from this lecture as real issue are raised during the course of the 3 hour lecture. The lecture will be broken into four (4) - 30 minute sessions structured to comprise of a basic introduction of the Codes and key definitions and principles. The second and third session will introduce the SAMREC and SAMVAL Codes and their application in Public Reporting. The final session will provide a number of case studies thereby enabling participants to fully benefit from the sessions.

UNLOCKING THE FUTURE OF THE AFRICAN MINERALS INDUSTRY: VISION 2040

It is recognised that we live in an era characterised by accelerated change, overwhelming complexities and tremendous competition, all of which result in considerable uncertainty about the future. The challenge for young professionals in this time is to create a vision for mining in Africa that will inspire confidence for the future. Young professionals must create a roadmap that describes the steps neccessary to realise the vision.

In setting the strategic direction to achieve the vision, these are a few of the questions that must be answered:

What are the policies that should be developed and implemented to transform the status quo to the envisioned mining environment?

What are the technical solutions that need to be pursued?

What are the human capital needs that must be satisfied?

What are the economic conditions required?

This conference will provide a platform for young professionals to interact with peers and industry thought leaders to drive the dialogue towards unlocking the future of the African minerals industry.

9 May 2017—WORKSHOP10–11 May 2017—CONFERENCE12 May 2017—TECHNICAL VISIT

Cape Town Convention Centre, Cape Town, South Africa

The production of SO2 and Sulphuric acid remains a pertinent topic in the Southern African mining, minerals and metallurgical industry. Due to significant growth in acid and SO2 production as a fatal product, as well as increased requirement for acid and SO2 to process Copper, Cobalt and Uranium, the Sub Saharan region has seen a dramatic increase in the number of new plants. The design capacity of each of the new plants are in excess of 1000 tons per day. In light of the current state of the industry and the global metal commodity prices the optimisation of sulphuric acid plants, new technologies and recapture and recycle of streams are even more of a priority and focus. The 2017 Sulphuric Acid Conference will create an opportunity to be exposed to industry thought leaders and peers, international suppliers, other producers and experts. To ensure that you stay abreast of developments in the industry, The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, invites you to participate in a conference on the production, utilization and conversion of sulphur, sulphuric acid and SO2 abatement in metallurgical and other processes to be held in May 2017 in Cape Town.

The SAIMM’s Mine Planning Forum has previously clearly highlighted the limitations currently available for mine planning skills. The 2012 and 2014 Planning Schools was well received and there seems to be sufficient support for it to be successfully repeated in 2017.

Chrome beneficiation has been at the core of driving South Africa’s ferroalloy industry in the last ~ 40 years. Various technical, economic, environmental and social issues have seen an industry transform over decades. Interaction between industrial partners (mines, ferrochrome producers, and engineering houses), research institutions and science councils has always been key to drive South Africa forward.

Following a successful School in Manganese Ferroalloy Production held at Mintek in 2016 and in preparation for Infacon XV (to be held in South Africa in 2018), a colloquium on Chrome is being organised.

4th Mineral ProjectValuation School27–29 June 2017The University of the Witwatersrand

The SAIMM announces the 4th Mineral Project Valuation School following three previous successful schools in 2011, 2012, and 2014 that were fully subscribed. The audience included international delegates from the United Kingdom, Australia, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

This School will provide you with insights into these and other developments that will affect the way you conduct mineral project valuations and equip you with relevant techniques for undertaking Mineral Asset Valuation. Seats are limited so book your seats early as the next SAIMM Mineral Asset Valuation School will only be run in 2019.

RAPID UNDERGROUND MINE and CIVIL ACCESS CONFERENCE 2017

This conference is in response to the industry being under immense pressure to sink shafts and develop tunnels in safer and more efficient ways. The global call for no harm has been taken very seriously.

The advance rates and daily production has come under immense pressure to improve and shorten the entire project period to make it financially viable. We can sink shafts and develop tunnels without hurting people, however to repeatedly achieve this while achieving the productivity targets has proven to be a challenge. We need to critically examine all aspects related to the sinking process. The way in which we conduct the entire project, right from mine concept study through to commissioning and handover all needs to be considered. Shaft sinking and tunnelling is not only about the sinking cycle.

There are many diverse factors that influence the sinking process including: business drivers in the concept phase, mining methodologies and technology alternatives in the pre-feasibility stages, cost and timing parameters in the feasibility as well as partner selection, technical criteria and management systems during the execution phase. Mechanisation attempts to remove people from the hazards of sinking and to provide a continuous consistent advance rate has made great strides in the past five years.

The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM in collaboration with the Canadian Institute for Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) and the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) is proud to host …

Namibia is currently ranked the fifth-largest producer of uranium in the world and is set to become the world’s second-largest producer once Swakop Uranium’s Husab Mine is fully operational. This will undoubtedly position Namibia as a major uranium mining hub and will see the industry playing a more significant role in the national and regional economies.

Uranium as a material, and its applications, are often controversial. Yet, nuclear reactors are still being built despite the growth in energy generation through renewable sources and despite highly publicised nuclear accidents. Several countries are pursuing uranium enrichment programmes. Although prices are currently subdued, it is highly likely that there will be continued and sustained demand for uranium for the foreseeable future.

This conference aims to bring together professionals in the uranium industry. A broad range of topics will be discussed, ranging from mining to some of the applications of uranium, and including safety, and post-operations closure and remediation issues. Innovations in the extraction and applications of uranium are constantly being made, and this conference provides a platform for the discussion of advances and for generating new ideas.

It is fitting that the conference takes place in Swakopmund, Namibia. Not only do Namibia and this town have much to offer in scenic beauty, but Swakopmund (apart from being a favourite seaside resort) may also be said to be the centre of uranium extraction in the country. Most mines are located in the Namib Desert, within easy driving distance of the conference venue. Uranium mining is a very important sector in the Namibian economy, and has been for many years. The oldest uranium mine, Rössing Uranium, is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, having commenced operations in 1976.

Furnace Tapping 2014 was a first of its kind event. It focused on the challenges associated with the tapping of furnaces and on finding ways to address these challenges. South Africa, which produced 18 commodities at more than 75 sites applying smelter technology, was an ideal breeding ground for such an event. People gathered to share creative solutions to a problem shared by many, for which no miracle one-size-fits-all solution exists.

The SAIMM takes pride in announcing a follow-up conference, Furnace Tapping 2018, will be hosted in South Africa in October 2018. The high standard of technical papers compiled in the peer-reviewed proceedings of Furnace Tapping 2014 will be maintained (www.saimm.co.za/Conferences/FurnaceTapping/).

The SAIMM envisage for Furnace Tapping 2018 further documentation of tapping practices by existing operators, more reviews of current operations, and descriptive case studies in which technologies available for tap-hole design, monitoring, closure, and maintenance were applied.